Mulhouse

Let 2012 begin with fast cars! The last of the Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) triangle (an airport where after you have landed, you need to make sure you are following the right arrow to the right arrival gate, otherwise you may just find yourself in Switzerland, when your plan was to fly to France or Germany), Mulhouse has what used to be the Hans and Fritz Schlumpf brothers' collection. Housed now in a museum, fascinating right from the start, right through to facing the crowd and the traffic like the smurfs did in their movie in other corners.

Chessy and Serris

Princesses ran around ethereal-ism constructed on

where smiles were offered to attendants, flavours were rewarded to those willing to pause, fire blasted multiple times and ultimate simplicity of lines was adhered to. Greetings to creatures were delivered but those meant for D or for the box were unheard.

Metz

Very green with leafy, drappy trees, beautiful river side, and its "stately squares".

Apart from that: wellies. It was meant to be.

Nancy

It said it has "one of the most dazzling squares in Europe."

How dazzling can it be? It's just "Nancy" on the road signs.

Even on a cloudy day. Very. Dazzling.

Strasbourg

Every other turn said, "just a little longer". The mixed blood gave it a different flair, the pink sandstone cathedral was stunning, and it was also impressive because it was clearly beyond just the few main streets. I don't think I would have minded to stop by a faculty of medicine like that each day.

Annecy

Alpine houses along canals against the mountains-cape. And then there's the lake.

I really didn't capture the beauty of this place properly.

Lyon

The entrance. The flower bouquet. River. Cloudy sunday. Bakery scene. Art. Restaurants. Local sugary specialties. Hillside houses. Colours. Monuments. Bouchon. "Andouillette" and "quenelles" were clearly two different things. Clearly. And here if you can.